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An undated handout photo of types of knives that airline passengers will be allowed to carry. Aviation security leaders are moving forward with plans to shift toward a risk-based system of passenger screening.
(Photo by Transportation Security Administration via The New York Times)

As a commercial airline pilot for 33 years, I feel compelled to disagree with the Transportation Security Administration's proposed rule allowing small knives back on airplanes. As we all recall, the goal of terrorists is to cause fear, mayhem and panic among their enemies. As American citizens, we are at the top of their list to terrorize with whatever means available.

Many of our international flights are over water for an extended amount of time with alternate airports several hours away. Imagine several individuals boarding an airplane with the intent to create as much mayhem as possible to the crew and their passengers. We could all be exposed to these conditions for hours before diverting to an alternate airport.

Society today is more dangerous than it was 20 or 30 years ago -- just pick up the newspaper or watch the evening news to see the carnage that knives can wreak on the human body. Yes, as a pilot, I do have a locked door behind me to secure the cockpit, but the passengers and flight attendants do not. My job is to transport my passengers to their destination safely. If knives are allowed back onto airplanes, I will be unable to fulfill my responsibility.

I ask the traveling public to support their flight crews by signing a petition that may reverse the TSA's decision to allow knives back on airplanes. Your safety is our first and foremost responsibility. Search "No knives on airplanes" on Google and please sign the petition to TSA.